 | Berkeley papers |  |
Mary's letter brought us the afflicting intelligence
last evening of the death of your dear infant. We deeply sympathize
with you the Doctor, and all your children, who feel
the more on this occasion because it is the first child you
have ever lost. I know that in the first moments of privations
of this character the consolations of reason are of no avail,
and even those of religion are not sufficient to reconcile us
to our misfortune, until time has come to their aid. Yet I
cannot forbear to remind you that if you were destined to be
deprived of your beloved child, it was better that he should
be taken from you before he was yet more endeared to you, &
his brothers & sisters, and that you ought to esteem yourself
particularly fortunate that you have lost but one out of ten
children. How often does it happen that amid the diversified
occurrences of life, misfortunes do not come alone—thus you
had hardly become reconciled to the death of poor Rush before
your own promising babe followed him to the grave. May you
have a long respite from these severe but necessary & we must
suppose wise dispensations of providence!
Your mother's health seemed to have been so much
benefited by her excursion to Baltimore that we promised ourselves
it was completely reinstated—but we have found ourselves
mistaken. She again finds that she must strictly adhere
to a regemin that prescribes to her the articles of diet she
least likes, and forbids her the use of every thing for which
she has any appetite—and she cannot venture to deviate from
it without a great risk of suffering from it severely. On the
24th of the month we set out for Baltimore & the Eastern shore,
and as we have promised to make a visit to Mr. Philip Cocke it
will be late in July before we reach Albemarle. I went today
after Church to see Dr. James Rogers, but was not admitted to
his room. His case is deemed altogether hopeless, & he is now
confined to his bed. I greatly pity his family. From the continued
accounts received that Mary's health was not yet restored,
and an expression, of a desponding character, in the
sweet letter she wrote me yesterday, I feel uneasy about her,
and hope that she may be sent to some watering place this
summer. Her trip to Winchester last summer seemed to have been
of great service, and had she tried some of the medicinal
springs her cure might have been complete. Mrs Lorenzo Lewis
has been here on a visit to her aged father Dr. Cox. She is a
very sweet pleasing woman, & she expressed the liveliest & kindest
regret that Mary had not favored her with a visit.
Your mother unites with me in regards to the Doctor
& the children, and tenders you her heartfelt sympathy. Hoping
that this letter may find you restored to your wanted serenity,
and that you, your husband & children are in good or improved
health I remain your affectionate father
| Berkeley papers | |